The L Word Sequel Series Being Developed by Showtime

A sequel series to the critically-acclaimed The L Word is currentlybeing developed by Showtime. The original series was created by chief showrunner Ilene Chaiken, as a narrative exploration of a core group of lesbians and their friends, families, and lovers living in West Hollywood.

Since premiering on Showtime in 2004, The L Word co-stars Mia Kirshner, Jennifer Beals, Laurel Holloman, Leisha Hailey, Katherine Moennig, and Pam Grier have since gone down as the first troupe of mainstream celebrities to be iconically associated with a popularized conception of the lesbian lifestyle in America, as it has evolved in the 21st century. After proving to be an hit with viewers some eight years after its season 6 series finale ended in 2009, Showtime is now prepping for more L Word.

According to Deadline, a sequel series to The L Word is currently in the works at Showtime, with returning stars Beals, Moennig, and Hailey all onboard as executive producers and supporting players within the new series’ updated explorations of the lesbian identity in the 2010s. Series creator Chaiken will also serve as an executive producer, but will not have a hands-on involvement in the production in order to devote the bulk of her attention to Empire– a series for which she is a current staff writer.

It will be interesting to see who will step up to the plate and become the showrunner for The L Word sequel series, as the new show will have to pull some heavy lifting when it comes to accurately representing the lesbian lifestyle as it exists today. Chaiken may have been the first showrunner to reflect the complexities about lesbian sexuality on television, but as she hands the baton off to another creative talent it will be interesting to see what direction her touchstone property will take moving forward.

For those in the know, a women’s prison series spin-off to The L Word (tentatively titled The Farm)was previously in development, with original series regular Hailey to star as returning protagonist Alice – in a show that was once billed as the female equivalent to the HBO original drama series Oz. Since that time, Orange is the New Blackhas done much the same thing in a production that in many ways serves as an answer to Chaiken’s show. However, with an official sequel to The L Word on the way, only time will tell how much more diverse the representation of lesbians on TV will become in the near future.